State fairgrounds' repair cost set at $3 million

Underground electrical cable at the Illinois State Fairgrounds was on borrowed time, but state officials did not spend the money to replace it.

Doug Finke

Underground electrical cable at the Illinois State Fairgrounds was on borrowed time, but state officials did not spend the money to replace it.

Now, they have no choice but to replace all 22 miles of it at an estimated cost of $3 million in a process that will keep the fairgrounds virtually shut down through May.

It’s a move that potentially will cost the local economy millions in lost revenue and has drawn sharp criticism from a state senator who said money should have been spent on maintaining the system.

“It’s outlived its life cycle,” said Ron Wright, administrator for the Capital Development Board, which is overseeing the project. “It has a life expectancy of 25 years. We’re pushing 25, and in some cases, 30 and 35.”

But while people knew the electrical system was aging, it didn’t get noticed until late January when the first of a series of power failures signaled that something was very wrong. The more contractors searched for a cause, the more they realized the entire system was shot.

Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said he’s “outraged” at the fairgrounds’ situation, which is costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars because events that were supposed to be held at the fairgrounds are being canceled or moved elsewhere, including out of town.

“It’s just an example of what’s occurred under this administration by deferring maintenance,” Bomke said. “They have not kept up with our needs.”

Wright said the life expectancy of the cable isn’t absolute. Lines can last 35 to 40 years without problems. The type of electrical failure at the fairgrounds “is a rarity for us,” he added.

Department of Agriculture Director Charles Hartke said he’s never asked for funding specifically to replace the electric cables at the fairgrounds, especially since there were no warning signs the system was in trouble.

“I say I want to replace an electrical system. Why? Well, it’s aged,” Hartke said. “There are all kinds of facilities across the state that probably need similar capital improvements.”

Garry Roscetti, an electrical engineer with HDR, the engineering firm hired to pinpoint the electrical problems, said a number of factors can lead to deterioration of cable insulation, including the heat generated in a high-voltage line. Once the insulation is damaged, excessive voltage can escape, leading to a dangerous release of energy.

That’s what happened a couple of weeks ago. Officials finally acknowledged Wednesday that a manhole cover weighing several hundred pounds was forced out of the ground by pressure created from the faulty cable. No one witnessed the event, so it is unclear just how far the manhole cover moved.

“It went up off the manhole, turned and came down ajar,” Wright said. “As far as we’re concerned, if it’s an inch ajar, we take it seriously.”

The possibility the same thing could happen again, or worse, led fair officials to shut down the grounds to the public as a safety measure. It’s going to stay that way until the repair work is done.

“It’s very difficult to control the traffic on 365 acres,” Hartke said. “It’s easier to say, don’t come on the grounds. For the safety of the public, we decided to cancel those events until it is completely repaired.”

Asked about the economic hardship to the city and to organizers who have had to cancel their events, Hartke said, “I apologize for that, but we’re about protecting the public and public safety.”

Hartke said the state will reimburse organizers about $125,000 for deposits they made to rent fairgrounds’ buildings.

He added that he hopes the cable can be completely replaced by the Memorial Day weekend, allowing the motorcycle races scheduled then to go on. Whether that happens depends on the weather, availability of replacement cable and if other problems are discovered during repairs.

The estimated cost of the repairs, $3 million, is just that — an estimate. The state will accept bids for the on work March 12.

The money will come out of the Capital Development Board budget, and Wright said other scheduled projects will have to be postponed to free up the money.

There is more than 120,000 feet of 1 1/4-inch cable to be replaced. Stretched in a line, it would reach from Springfield to Petersburg.

The new cable will carry a 30-year life expectancy and have better grounding capabilities than the cable that is being replaced.

Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527

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